Running board or step for automobiles



May 11 192a 1,534,573

\N. U. $TDNEHILL RUNNING BOARD OR STEP FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Augus 13, 1923 aitouwq Patented May 11, 1925.

I assists ares @EFICE.

siren stares WINALOE U. STONEHILL, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

RUNNING BOARD OB STEP FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed August 13, 1823. Serial No. 657,016.

My invention relates to running boards or steps for automobiles. In what I now regard as the best embodiment of my inven tion it possesses the characteristics of being practically self cleaning as far as dirt ac cumulation is concerned; it affords a good foothold, it acts as a side cushioning device that may save or prevent serious injury from collisions; it localizes such damage as may not be necessary to replace the whole running board; it gives the car a stylish ap pearance, and economy of material in its construction is secured. My invention consists in whatever isdescribed by or is included withinthe terms or scope of the appended claims.

In the annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an .automobile runningboard and adjacent portions of the automobile embodying my invention;

Fig.2.is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of another embodiment of my invention;

My invention contemplates a running board of strips preferably of wood covered with sheet metal at least upon the side and top that extend longitudinally of the car and are spaced apart and which may be supported at their ends by the front and rear fenders or upon brackets at intervals that support the same independently of the fender and the interposition of springs or yieldable device between adjacent strip which permit lateral or sidewise movement in an inward direction under the force of a blow or pressure and caused the rebound of the strip to normal position when the compressing force is removed, but these strips may be immovably mounted or sup ported.

Describing in detail first what appears in Figs. 1 to 3 my running board consists of longitudinally extending spaced parallel strips, 10, of'wood each covered on top and sides with sheet metal, 11, which may be aluminum or other material and at intervals there are transverse rods or bolts 12, which pass through the strips and upon which they are slidably mounted and which support expansion coil springs 14, placed between adjacent strips. At intervals of the length of the running board there are brackets, 15, which are fastened to the chassis and may be sustained from collisions so that it which permit the strip to slide laterally while firmly supporting them against downward movement under the weight of a person upon the running board. The strips ex 0 tend from front fender to rear fender and are suitably secured against longitudinal movement. In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 4 the strips,110,are held at the desired spacing by attachment to transverse- 1y extending iron bars, 111, at their ends and at intervals between and no springs are interposed between adjacent strips.

It will be seen that the spaces between the strips dirt and water will pass therethrough so that the running board is practically self cleaning; the edges of the strips assure a good foothold, although a step plate may be employed if desired; blows against the side of the running board from collision or otherwise will be cushioned, and this is true to some extent when the spring devices are. not employed, and any damage to the running board that may be suffered may be confined only to the outer strip. The employment of strips economizes material and reduces weight.

Of course, the strips need not be strictly parallel nor all be of uniform cross-section and when the design of the car requires it the innermost strip may be tapering so that the running board will be wider at one end than at the other.

Preferably screws, 16, pass through slots, 17, in the bracket, 15, into the under side of the strips, 10, to secure the strips against upward movement or displacement, and the slots, 17, allowing room for the screws to move with the strips when the latter slide horizontally, this being best shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 1 and 2 the running board is independent of the fenders.

As shown clearly in Fig. 3 a splash or mud guard, 18, is placed beneath the running board to prevent mud or water being splashed up between the spaced strips, said guard being shown as inclined downward and inward and open at its inner end so as to readily be emptied of any dirt or water passing downward between the strips.

hat I claim is:

1. Anautomobile running board or step comprising spaced longitudinally extending laterally and bodily yieldable strips arranged one behind another, one of said strips constituting the outermost edge of the running board and being exposed on its outer side to impact from object-s llltlvlllg towards the side of the automobile.

2. An automobile running board or step comprising spaced longitudinally extending laterally and bodily yieldable strips arranged one behind another, one of said strips constituting the outermost edge of the running board and being exposed on its outer side to impact from objects moving towards the side of the automobile, said strips extending between the front and rear fenders.

2-}. An automobile running board or step comprising spaced longitudinally extending strips of sheet metal covered wood, each strip having its sheet metal covering engaging the upper side thereof and the sides of the strip and reaching to the bottom thereof, and means connecting the strips together compri ing members upon which the strips rest at their bottoms and bolts joining strips and members together.

4t. An automobile running board or steps comprising spaced longitudinally extending laterally and bodily yieldable strips arranged one behind another, one of said strips constituting the outermost edge of the running board and being exposed on its outer side to impact -from objects moving towards the side of the automobile, each strip being spaced from its neighbor and being laterally yieldable independently of its neighbor.

5. An automobile running board or step comprising spaced longitudinally extending strips, said strips being bodily yieldable latera lly, and ha ing spring devices interposed between them.

(3. JLll automobile running board or step comprising spaced longitudinally extending strips and a guard situated beneath the strips, the upper surface of said guard being inclined from side to side of the running board and being lower at one edge for the discharge thereat oi accun'iulations on the guard.

7. in automobile running board or step comprising spaced longitudinally extending strips and a guard situated beneath the strips, said guard extending downward and inward and being open at its inner edge.

8. An automobile running board or step having at its outer edge exposed to blows a longitudinally extending strip that is bodily yieldable laterally, and elastic means acting on said strip when it is pressed laterally inward.

9. An automobile running board or step comprising spaced longitudinally extending members, the spacing being laterally and horizontally ol the running board, the outermost member extending between the front and rear wheel fenders and spring means in the space between such members and yieldable inward to allow bodily lateral and horizontal movement of the outermost memher.

In testimony whereof I hereunto allix my signature.

lVINALOE U. STONEI-IILL. 

